The MotoGP season has been a rollercoaster for Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi, who admits it started as a 'nightmare'.
Following the Sepang pre-season test, where Ducati's five riders finished inside the top six, including reigning champion Marc Marquez, expectations were high. However, Aprilia's sudden surge between the Sepang and Buriram tests caught Tardozzi off guard.
Aprilia's Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin dominated the opening races, winning the first three grands prix and a Sprint victory, respectively. This left Ducati struggling with only a single Sprint success to show for it.
Tardozzi's initial confidence in Ducati's performance at Sepang quickly turned into surprise at Aprilia's dominance. He admitted, 'Honestly, yes, I was surprised by Aprilia's early-season strength.'
Despite this setback, Tardozzi remained optimistic, praising Gigi's work with the engineers and the team's efforts to close the gap. Eventually, Ducati broke through with Alex Marquez's victory at Jerez and Fabio di Giannantonio's wins at Catalunya.
However, the team's success was bittersweet, as Marc Marquez's recovery from a compressed radial nerve in his right arm was slower than expected. Tardozzi estimated his recovery would take at least one to two months, emphasizing that Marquez was not yet at full fitness.
The team's luck took a turn for the worse when Martin triggered a first-corner accident at the European rounds, eliminating Bezzecchi, di Giannantonio, and other riders. This incident allowed Marquez to cut 30 points from Bezzecchi's championship lead, although he remains 72 points behind.
Tardozzi acknowledged the team's bad luck, stating, 'We had bad luck in the beginning of the season. We know that 44 races can have different results and situations during each weekend.'
Despite the challenges, Tardozzi remains focused on the team's progress and the potential for a strong finish. He believes that with the right adjustments and continued effort, Ducati can close the gap and compete for the championship.
